Think Tanks

The term "think tanks" is an imprecise phrase used to describe a wide range of non-profit research organizations which engage in public policy analysis and research, and often advocate solutions. Some are strictly nonpartisan, researching policy issues without regard to political outcomes, while others see one of their main functions as that of providing intellectual support to politicians or parties. They are as ubiquitous in the American political scene as interest groups, media consultants, "spin doctors," and the political parties themselves.

Some of the most useful reference titles about think tanks are:

Abelson, Donald E.

American Think-tanks and Their Role in U.S. Foreign Policy.

New York, NY : St. Martin's Press, 1996.

E 744 .A19 1996 - Lehman

Hollings, Robert L.

Nonprofit Public Policy Research Organizations: a Sourcebook on Think Tanks in Government.

New York : Garland Pub., 1993.

Z 7164. A2 H65 1993 - Lehman Reference

Lieberman, Trudy.

Slanting the Story: the Forces That Shape the News.

New York : New Press, 2000.

PN 4888 .C598 L54 2000 - Lehman

Ladi, Stella.

Globalisation, Policy Transfer and Policy Research Institutes.

Cheltenham, UK ; Northampton, MA : E. Elgar, c2005.

H 97 .L33 2005 - Business

NIRA's World Directory of Think Tanks 2005, 5th ed.

Presented by the National Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA),Tokyo. Information on 318 think tanks from 89 countries and regions, with links to them when available.

Organizations for Policy Analysis: Helping Government Think.

Newbury Park, CA : Sage, 1992.

JK 468 .C7 O74 1992 - Lehman

PolicyExperts.org

A searchable database of the conservative movement, presenting detailed information on over 300 public policy organizations in the U.S. and over 2200 public policy experts by area of expertise, presented by the Heritage Foundation.

Public Interest Group Profiles. Triennial.

Washington, D.C. : Foundation for Public Affairs, 1977/78- .

JK 1118 .P8 - Latest in Lehman Reference

Contains a chapter on think tanks, with detailed descriptions, including budget data and funding sources.

Ricci, David M.

The Transformation of American Politics : the New Washington and the Rise of Think Tanks.

New Haven : Yale University Press, c1993.

JK 468 .C7 R53 1993 - Lehman

Smith, James Allen.

The Idea Brokers: Think Tanks and the Rise of the New Policy Elite.

New York : Free Press, 1991.

JK 468 .C7 S65 1991 - Lehman

Stone, Diane.

Capturing the Political Imagination: Think-Tanks and the Policy Process.

London ; Portland, OR : Frank Cass, 1996.

H 97 .S833 1996 - Lehman

Think Tank Directory: a Guide to Independent Nonprofit Public Policy Research Organizations. 2nd ed.

Topeka, KS : Government Research Service, 2006.

H 65 .T54 2006g - Lehman

Think Tanks Across Nations: a Comparative Approach.

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 1998.

H 62 .T4295 1998g - Lehman

Think Tanks and Civil Societies: Catalysts for Ideas and Action.

New Brunswick, N.J. : Transaction Publishers, c2000.

H 97 .T478 2000 - Lehman

Leading Think Tanks

Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty

Advocacy Institute

Alan Guttmacher Institute

Alliance for Health Reform

American Conservative Union

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

American Foreign Policy Council

Aspen Institute

The Brookings Institution

Canadian Institute of International Affairs

Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies

Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs

The Carter Center

The Cato Institute

Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies

The Center For Democracy and Technology

Center For Global Development

Center For Governmental Studies

Center for Law and Social Policy

Center for National Policy

Center for Public Integrity

Center for Responsive Politics

Center for Science, Policy, & Outcomes

Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Center for the New West

Center for Urban Policy Research

Center of Concern

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Christian Coalition of America

Citizens' Research Foundation

Claremont Institute for the Study of Statesmanship and Political Philosophy

Common Cause

The Commonwealth Fund

Competitive Enterprise Institute

Concord Coalition

Council on Foreign Relations

Discovery Institute Public Policy Think Tank

Eagle Forum

Economic Policy Institute

Empower America

Energy and Environmental Research Center

EPPC Global Management  (works with faith and community organizations) 

Ethics and Public Policy Center

Families USA

Federation of American Scientists

Foreign Policy Association

The Freedom Forum

Gold Mercury International

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Henry L. Stimson Center

The Heritage Foundation

The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace

Hudson Institute

Independence Institute

Institute for International Economics

Institute for Policy Innovation

Institute for Policy Studies

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Institute of Public Administration

International Institute for Strategic Studies

Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

Lexington Institute

Milken Institute

National Bureau of Economic Research

National Center for Policy Analysis

National Institute for Public Policy

Pacific Research Institute

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Political Economy Research Center

Population Reference Bureau

Progress & Freedom Foundation

Progressive Policy Institute

Public Citizen

RAND: includes the ability to search RAND Abstracts, and the fulltext of some RAND publications

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

The Century Foundation (formerly The Twentieth Century Fund)

Union of Concerned Scientists

Urban Institute

The William Davidson Institute

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

World Economic Forum

World Resources Institute

OTHER LISTS of THINK TANKS

Centers for Research and Policy Development: from Harvard University; links to think tanks and other organizations involved in public policy related research

Political Resources: Think Tanks: from Project Vote Smart

Think Tanks and Research Institutes: From Auburn University, Montgomery, AL

U.S. Think Tanks: from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill